Pilot light assembly



Nov. 5, 1940. A. J. FOUTE 2220515 PILOT LIGHT ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 24, 192,8

. INI/ENTOR: /,erf c/Zazife,

' ATTOR i Y Patented Nov. 57, 1940 UNITED STATES-- PATENT OFFICE PILOT'LIGHT ASSEMBLY Albert J. Foute,

Manufacturing consisting of Albert Foute Chicago; Ill., assigner to Ilrake Co., Chicago, Illf, a partnership J. Foute and Irman D.

Application January 24, 193s, serial Na'issmo 1 Claim.

The invention relates to lamp mountings, and particularly to'panel mountings for lights such as signal lights, pilot lights and illuminating devices. 'I'he invention has been specically embodied as a signal lamp specially suitable for mounting in the dash or other similar panel of airplanes, automobiles, cabinets, and other places.

It is a special object of the invention to present a construction which will enable the production i of the device at an extremely low cost, and which will have advantages in facility of mounting, replacement of lamps and eiiiciency in many respects. Thus, it is a particular aim to enable the lamp to be cooled effectively without heating the 15 mounting panel excessively. Another object is to enable the body of the article to be formed from ilat sheet stock by a simple blanking and bending procedure. A still further aimis to enable more ready attachment of lead wires to the 20 terminals of the fixture. Another important object is to enable a plurality of similar devices to be mounted in exceedingly close mutual relation on an instrument panel or the like, yet enabling quick replacement of lamps with ease.

It is a special object to present a lamp mounting which, while being of extremely open formation will nevertheless have a minimum liability of short circuit.

Additional objects, advantages and features of 30 invention reside in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in the embodiment of the invention as will appear, or be more particularly set forth hereinafter in the description, and shown inthe drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of the complete unit engaged in a panel.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device in place.

Figure 3 is an inner end elevation of the device. There is illustrated a portion o! an instrument panel, dash or cabinet I0, having a suitable aperture therethrough to receive the mounting now tobe described. A'tuhular ierrule Il, externally threaded,'and having a peripheral outer lip or 45 flange I2, is inserted through the apertured front face/,oi the panel, projecting beyond the rear side of the panel a distance, and its ilangev engaging snugly the front face of the panel. A i body frame piece I3 is provided consisting of a .50 wide vertical collar portion Il apertured to rethe ferrule therethrough ceive the inner part of in threaded engagement or slidably, as preferred. It is held against the rear face of the panel III by a suitable nut I5 screwed thereon. The collar 55 is projected downwardly a shortdistance with material of a width equal to its full diameter, although the proportion may be modified as des ired, and as close beneath the nut as practicable it is bent outwardly at right angles to the collar in a planif'orm plate' I6 cut to a substantially frusto-triangular form, and continued with a narrow extension of uniform width for a distance. This extension is bent upwardly at right angles forming a vertical assembly plate or bracket stud I1 extending across the projected axis of the aperture in the collar I4, and having a smaller aperturev formed therein concentric with the apertureinthe collar. Oneach side of this plate I1 insulating washers I8 are disposed having bushing bosses engaged in the aperture-of the plate, and'outwardly of these washers in turn there are wiring terminal ears or arms I9 and 20 extended radially with respect to the axis of the device, the outer one being held in place by the upset outer end of an assembly tube 2 I of much smaller diameter than the aperture in the plate I1 andv engaged through the Washers I8 and beyond. The inner arm 2l is formed with an aperture concentric with and much larger than the tube 2l, and having a bushing 22 therein receiving the tube 2l therethrough and flanged at its inner part. It is held `by an inner flange on the tube 2I snugly fitted against the bushing. Also held under the ilange of the bushing 22 is the suitably apertured inner end of a cup-like lamp receptacle 23 having a cylindrical tubular wall portionprojected horizontally toward the ferrule- I I, but stopping short thereof a distance, although the latter is not essential, and if necessary for any reason,- as for instance, mounting an accessory, the ferrule may be extended around thereceptacle. The ferrule however, being of sufficiently larger diameter, would then lie in radially spaced relation t'o the receptacle. The wall of the cup maybe formed with the conventional bayonet slots as at A24, to receive and retain the lamp base of a standard form yof lamp now generally applied to such receptacles. Y

Slidable in the tube there isa contact pin 25, having a head at its inner end under which and engaged around the pin there is conilned a helical spring 21 seated againstv the inner flanged end of the tube 2I. The outer end of the pin 25 is upset so as to be retained in the tube 2 I,

The interior of the ferrule II may be threaded or smooth, and engaged therein is the collar or mount 28 of a bulls-eye orl faceted refractor prism or lens 30. If the ferrule is not threaded, the `mount 28 may have aY slotted partslidable 55 and frictionally held in the ferrule. 'I'he mount 28 may be knurled exteriorly and may be manually detached from the ferrule either by unscrewing or by sliding movement as the case may be, to permit insertion or removal of a lamp in or fromlthe receptacle 23 entirely by manipulation through and from the front of the panel I0. The usual lamp bulb Will set free Within the mount 28.

' It will be seen that the device is ventilated with high eiiiciency, and that --there is also aorded access directly to the base ofthe standard lamp for the socket illustrated from one side behind the rear side of the panel I0 as Well as access to the lamp from the front, to facilitate removal and replacement of burned out lamps. This is anextremely important advantage in such devices owing to the fact that in a very large proportion of such lamps the glass bulb portion becomes loosened from the lamp base, so that it is impossiblev to rotate the base by turning the lamp bulb (which is the usual way of disengaging the lamp base from the bayonet slot). Without the ex tremely ample lateral access provided by my invention it would be impossible to remove the base in some instances if the bulb becomes loosened, and in any event it would be a special tool job. But With my construction, in case of separation of the bulb and base, small pliers may be engaged with the base from one side to turn the same and free it from the bayonet slot.

While I have disclosed a speciiic and detail construction of the invention, this is merely exemplary, and I do not regard the invention as limited thereto, but various modifications ofstructure may be made without departing/from the spirit of the invention, as contemplated and set forth in the appended claim.

I claim: l

In a pilot light assembly, a lamp receptacle and mounting therefor comprising a plate having a medial elongated body portion'and right angular parallel end portions, one end portion having an aperture for reception of a means for securement to a panel or the like, the other end portion having an aperture concentric with the aperture of the iirst named end portion, a, lamp receptacle concentric with the aperture of the first named end portion mounted on theinner side of the second named end portion, said second named end portion having insulation material on opposite sides thereof, a wire terminal arm outwardly thereof and the said lamp receptacle inwardly thereof and including a second wire terminal arm, insulation being extended through said receptacle and overlapping a part of the same, a tubular assembly tube engaged through the insulation having one end out-turned over the first named wire terminal arm and' the other outturned to clamp said insulation, receptacle and bracket plate, and a spring-pressed contact slidable in said tube to engage a lamp base.

ALBERT J'. FOUTE. 

